Youri Tielemans opened the score after 27 minutes, before Jacob Ramsey’s finish.
Aston Villa then had two goals ruled out before Amadou Onana secured the victory.
In the week that Aston Villa lost a homegrown hero, it was natural that another local youngster shone so brightly on their return to Europe’s biggest stage.
Throughout their side’s win over Young Boys, the 1,600 Villa fans who traveled to Bern sang the name of Gary Shaw, who died on Monday at the age of 63. Shaw, one of the club’s best forwards, was a key member of the Villa side that won the European Cup in 1982, and while Jacob Ramsey has a long way to go to match that, he is on the right track.
Ramsey, like Shaw, rose through the youth ranks at Villa, and the midfielder scored the crucial second goal six minutes before halftime. Previously, Youri Tielemans became the first Villa player to score in this competition, now known as the Champions League, since Peter Withe done so in a quarter-final defeat to Juventus in March 1983. Amadou Onana sealed the victory in the closing stages.
Ollie Watkins had a goal disallowed due to a strange VAR handball call, and his replacement Jhon Duran had one too. Fortunately for Villa, it didn’t matter, albeit Duran, the king of pandemonium, needlessly enraged the home crowd by climbing on the barrier and celebrating in front of them after believing he had made it 3-0.
‘We want to dedicate this victory to Gary Shaw, his family, and all the Aston Villa family,’ said boss Unai Emery. ‘Forty-two years ago they won this competition. We want to try to follow what they achieved.’
Villa’s players wore black armbands in memory of Shaw and the club will pay tribute once more when they face Wolves at Villa Park on Sunday. Next in this competition,
Villa takes on Bayern Munich – the team they beat in Rotterdam to win this trophy 42 years ago – at home on October 2. It will be much harder than this yet with their current form and Emery’s European expertise, Villa will feel ready for anything.
With the artificial pitch and the emotional build-up, perhaps it was no surprise Villa made an untidy start. They looked tentative at the back, with right-back Lamare Bogarde finding the going tough against Young Boys’ lively winger Ebrima Colley.
Emi Martinez made a good stop against Colley, and after Bogarde failed to clear correctly, Filip Ugrinic blasted just wide from the edge of the box.
Ramsey did not have to wait long before scoring his first Champions League goal. Instead of completing a conventional clearance, Mohamed Ali Camara attempted to pass back to Van Ballmoos. Watkins stole the ball, was pulled down, and as the referee took advantage, Ramsey guided it home off the post. He celebrated provocatively in front of the Swiss crowd, but nothing compared to what Duran would do later.
The visitors maintained their composure, and Emery was able to remove Watkins after an hour and replace him with Duran. Watkins did not appear thrilled, but Emery will undoubtedly argue that he needed last season’s top scorer fresh on Saturday.
Ramsey nearly scored his second midway through the half with a rising drive quickly after McGinn’s attempt was knocked down, but Van Ballmoos made an excellent save.
Villa’s current form and Unai Emery’s European expertise will prepare them for any challenge. Young Boys did not pose much of a threat until Martinez saved Silver Ganvoula’s effort from the edge of the box.
Duran had taken over for Watkins after an hour, and the Colombian could not keep out of the spotlight. He stroked home superbly from 20 yards out, then enraged the Young Boys fans behind the goal by leaping on the fence and glaring them down, arms raised. ‘I don’t think it’s serious,’ said Emery.
It was a poor decision, and Duran, who was booked, was made even more ridiculous when the goal was ruled off due to an Onana handball at the outset of the action. Four minutes from time, Onana had his moment with a stunning strike into the bottom corner from 25 yards out.
